Chain Drug Review, July 9, 2018

Chain Drug Review July 9 2018 37 PERSONAL CARE REPORT FEMININE HYGIENE Supplier puts the feminine back into feminine hygiene NEW YORK Despite aging populations creating a dropoff in sales of feminine hygiene products the category is benefitting from a shift in consciousness in terms of the ingredients that go into these products such as growing demand for organic and all natural pads and tampons as well as from Millennial women who are looking for something different Queen V a new female powered feminine hygiene brand provides a prime illustration of this trend Queen V says for too long feminine wellness has been a category created in a boardroom rather than having a womans true interest in mind Queen V founder Lauren Steinberg who created the line after becoming frustrated with current products that often did more harm than good is saying no more to that status quo Feminine hygiene products include sanitary napkins and pads tampons and panty liners which are constructed with layers of quilted cotton fabrics and alternating layers of super absorbent polymers and plastics that are impermeable to liquids The category also includes feminine hygiene washes and menstrual cups Steinberg the daughter of a gynecologist was discouraged by a space saturated with outdated products and harmful ingredients so she set out to solve the problem herself Queen V is a woman to woman company that seeks to revolutionize the category with trustworthy better for you products bottled in a youthful and sexy package The company has launched with 11 products all of which are designed to maintain vaginal health as well as promote sexual health and rid the user of yeast infections The three step regimen says goodbye to basic vaginas with better for you vaginal health options that allow women to maintainyourV enjoy yourV and healyourV On top of that Queen V through its social media channels aims to change the dialogue on feminine wellness by talking openly about vaginal health sex and other topics that remain taboo for women to discuss out loud because in 2018 vagina shouldnt be a dirty word With a brains over beauty approach the goal isnt simply to make women feel beautiful on the inside but to educate them on their body and the science behind many of the health issues they may be afraid to talk about For instance according to Queen V soap should never be used in or around the vagina Instead take the advice of doctors and opt for warm water or a cleansing bar that matches the vaginas pH level Queen V also informs women that the groin has more eccrine sweat glands than any other part of the body which is why there is often an odor after exercise or a long day And many popular lubricants according to Queen V are not free of parabens and even contain ingredients such as glycerin and propylene glycol which potentially can cause not only discomfort and irritation but infections Queen V says its products are made in Food and Drug Administration approved laboratories and come gynecologist recommended Every product according to Queen V is formulated with a 38 45 pH to match the bodys natural chemistry Queen V says its mission is to empower Millennial women to take control of their health by providing products that are easy to use affordable and free of harsh ingredients and chemicals while encouraging an honest dialogue about feminine hygiene Aging populations aside The global feminine hygiene products market is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate CAGR of 69 during the forecast period 2018 to 2026 according to Persistence Market Research reaching an estimated value of 38 billion Sanitary napkins pads is projected to be the product with the highest share of revenue for the forecast period and is expected to remain dominant during that time according to most analyses with retail pharmacies expected to be the most dominant distribution channel gaining more than 268 market share over the forecast period according to Persistence Among all distribution channels Persistence expects online purchases to increase at a CAGR of 8 throughout the forecast period with Asia Pacific being the most lucrative region for the feminine hygiene products market and projected to grow with a CAGR of 76 through 2026 Within the Asia Pacific region China is the fastest growing marketplace for feminine hygiene products Rising per capita disposable income in many countries and changing lifestyles among the global population are the main factors cited for the growth of the feminine hygiene market as is increasing awareness of female health and hygiene The emergence of low cost feminine hygiene products is another factor Persistence highlights that is expected to boost demand and prospects for the market The scent of a woman doesnt have to harm skin Probiotic supplements can thwart dreaded UTIs ful bacteria that cause bacterial vaginosis With increased awareness of studies and the growing association of probiotics with vaginal health many brands have introduced probiotic supplements formulated for vaginal health Once such brand is AZO which recently announced the expansion of its vaginal health line with AZO Complete Feminine Balance a daily probiotic that optimizes vaginal pH and helps maintain feminine health Everyday activities and stressors from sexual activity to tight clothing diet and medication can all disrupt vaginal health according to AZO The company has developed its new probiotic NEW YORK The rise in popularity of probiotic supplements is most commonly linked to maintaining gut health However studies have shown that restoring healthy probiotic flora significantly protects the vagina from yeast infections and dreaded chronic urinary tract infections UTIs which plague tens of millions of women every year Bacteria in probiotics the good kind produce natural disinfectants that can help maintain an optimal pH and a healthy balance of beneficial microorganisms in the vagina by excluding harmful bacteria and other pathogens These friendly acid making bacteria may possibly inhibit the growth of harmto work naturally with a womans body and help restore the balance of good bacteria and yeast that can be thrown off by common disrupting factors AZO Complete Feminine Balance according to the company is the only womens probiotic with the clinically studied intelliflora blend which contains four unique strains of the most dominant lactobacilli discovered in healthy vaginal microflora The probiotic is clinically proven to work in just seven days based on clinical studies the company says adding that it is safe and beneficial for all women including those who are pregnant AZO says the new probiotic was developed to fill an unmet need in the marketplace Vaginal imbalance can really throw off a womans day and wed heard from countless women that they just wanted a product that would allow them to feel good every day says Sara Urbanek senior brand manager at i Health Inc the distributor of AZO We introduced a daily probiotic into our vaginal health line to help fill this void and allow women to own their day every day AZO Complete Feminine Balance is available in the feminine hygiene aisle at drug stores and major retailers including Target Corp Walmart Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy and online at Amazon com WHITE PLAINS N Y Vagisil recently launched Scentsitive Scents the brands newest line of intimate washes and cleansing wipes specially formulated with skin friendly scents to provide all day freshness for sensitive skin The Scentsitive Scents collection introduces White Jasmine and Peach Blossom both of which are scented while being free of harsh cleansers dyes or MIT preservative according to Vagisil which says it believes that women should not have to choose between scent and their sensitive skin Scentsitive Scents is a testament to our commitment to provide women the scents that they want in intimate products that are hypoallergenic and clinically tested to be gentle and safe says Padmaja Prem senior vice president of research and innovation for Vagisil Based on a recent consumer survey conducted by Vagisil 69 of women taking part said vaginal products with fragrances irritate vaginal skin The key difference between the new Scentsitive Scents line and other scented cleansers according to Vagisil is that the products in the collection have been specially formulated to provide a long lasting skin friendly scent with vitamin E and chamomile which according to OB GYN and Vagisil partner Dr Althea OShaughnessy is great for the sensitive skin of the vaginal area Scentsitive Scents washes and wipes are dermatologist and gynecologist tested and designed for the delicate skin and pH of the vaginal area Vagisil says Maintaining a healthy pH balance is essential for vaginal health A normal vaginal pH level on a scale from 0 to 14 is between 38 and 45 which is moderately acidic However what constitutes a normal pH level can vary slightly based on a womans stage of life An acidic vaginal environment is protective creating a barrier that prevents unhealthy bacteria and yeast from multiplying too quickly and causing infection Higher acidity levels can also potentially reduce fertility A high vaginal pH level above 45 provides the perfect environment for unhealthy bacteria to grow which creates a higher risk for various infections such as bacterial vaginosis BV and trichomoniasis trich a sexually transmitted disease which infects an estimated 37 million people in the U S While trich usually does not cause symptoms in those infected it can potentially raise the risk of other more serious STDs including HIV Vagisil has never compromised its ingredients when it comes to womens intimate health said Keech Combe Shetty chief executive officer of Vagisil The Vagisil Scentsitive Scents line of products is available nationwide at mass food and drug retailers Napkins and pads will have dominant share